Trump Wants to Force Homeless People Into ‘Tent Cities.’ Can He?

Louisiana's controversial handling of homelessness during the Super Bowl — spending $17.5 million to bus people to an unheated warehouse — may signal a troubling shift in how cities address visible homelessness. Roshan Abraham of Shelterforce and Next City reveals growing momentum for more aggressive approaches nationwide.

The move comes as HUD Secretary Scott Turner refuses to condemn the use of detention camps for people experiencing homelessness. Instead, Turner has criticized the evidence-based Housing First model, raising concerns among advocates about federal policy shifts.

Cities are already testing new tactics:

1. San Francisco and Portland opening sanctioned encampments with strict rules
2. New York City expanding involuntary psychiatric holds
3. California launching CARE Courts for mental health treatment
4. Fremont, California criminalizing assistance to people living outdoors

The chief mechanism for change could be HUD funding, which advocates fear will be used to incentivize states and cities to adopt more aggressive approaches. Those who previously resisted criminalization may soon claim they have no choice.

The privatization of these efforts raises additional concerns. In Louisiana, a disaster recovery contractor ran the “transitional center,” paying staff far more than comparable government positions while conditions remained poor.

For urban planners and policymakers, these developments signal a potential sea change in how American cities handle homelessness—one that prioritizes removal and containment over evidence-based solutions.